Where has the Spring gone? Tomorrow is Week #11 of our Afton Hill Climb series, and the FINAL SESSION until August.

Let’s get everybody to come. If you’ve been to Afton this spring – even once – please come tomorrow. And if you haven’t come yet, tomorrow will be a great day to join us. The weather is going to be great, so let’s take advantage and finish up with a HUGE turnout.

In addition to you coming, please invite all your cycling friends as the ride is open to all riders, regardless of ability, experience or type of bike (road, MTB, TT, ‘cross).

Please be on your bike and ready to go at 5:20 in front of Selma’s. I’ll do a quick pre-ride briefing, then we’ll head out for a short warmup then on to the hill approx 5:45.

So if you can’t be there right at 5:20 – 5:30, no problem. Come when you can. We’ll be on the hill until between 7:00 – 7:15 or so.

Continue to build your leg strength and your mental toughness as we get into the meat of the season.

As always, be on your bike and ready to go at 5:20 in front of Selma’s. I’ll do a quick pre-ride briefing then we’ll head out for a short warmup then on to the hill approx 5:45. So if you can’t be there right a 5:20 – 5:30, no problem. Come when you can.

Looks like an ideal evening on top tomorrow (Thursday) for hill repeats in Afton. I hope you can join us, especially since we only have 2 more weeks after tomorrow. We’re running out of time!

Last week the weather forced us to back off on both our effort and the amount of climbing. Let’s take advantage of tomorrow’s nice weather and climb longer, more and faster. Let’s get the most amount of climbing we’ve done all spring. As I mentioned last week, the coulee is approximately 330′ of vertical and the short, steep hill on top is about 80′. Many of the riders who have been coming each week are getting in excess of 3,000′ of climbing. Set your own goal for tomorrow, then meet and surpass it.

Be on your bike and ready to go in front of Selma’s Ice Cream at 5:20. I’ll do a quick pre-ride briefing then we’ll roll out at 5:30 for a warmup then on to the coulee for repeats. If you can’t be there right at the start, no problem. Show up when you can and join us on the hill. (As a reminder, let’s not park in front of Selma’s. Keep that open for their patrons. We can park on the road off to the sides or in one of the lots adjacent to the park/ballfield).

Tomorrow is going to be HOT! Forecast calls for the upper 80’s during ride time. That’s great!!!!! Just bring plenty of water, adjust your effort as you climb in order to not overheat and take extra recovery between hills as necessary.

The days are getting longer, so let’s continue to increase the amount of climbing we’re getting each week. Many of you have Garmin or other devices which measure the amount of climbing, but for those of you who don’t, you can ballpark it. The coulee is approximately 330′ of vertical and the short, steep hill on top is about 80′. Many of the riders who have been coming each week are getting in excess of 3,000′ of climbing. Whatever the number is for you, continue to add a few hundred feet each week.

Use your common sense tomorrow with the heat. If you can do more climbing, great. If the heat saps your strength and puts you at risk of overheating, do what you can do.

We’ll continue with the same schedule again tomorrow: be on your bikes and ready to go in front of Selma’s Ice Cream at 5:20. I’ll do a quick pre-ride briefing then we’ll roll out at 5:30 for a warmup then on to the coulee for repeats. If you can’t be there right at the start, no problem. Show up when you can and join us on the hill.

Continue putting in the time and effort on the hills, and take advantage of the others who will be climbing with you. We have only 3 more weeks after tomorrow, so time is running out.

Let’s make tomorrow a real top-quality night on the hill. Bring your friends, challenge yourself and continue to get stronger.

Tomorrow will feel like the middle of summer, and we’ve been waiting for almost a year for it. So let’s show up tomorrow in full force for an evening of hill climbing in Afton.

This spring is going by quickly. Tomorrow marks our 7th week of hill climbing, and we’ll only have 4 more weeks after tomorrow. So if you and your cycling friends are available, please join us for the last several weeks.

We’ll continue with the same schedule as each week: be on your bikes and ready to go in front of Selma’s Ice Cream at 5:20. I’ll do a quick pre-ride then we’ll roll out at 5:30 for a warmup then on to the coulee for repeats. If you can’t be there right at the start, no problem. Show up when you can and join us on the hill.

There is no better training, especially early in the season, than hill work. It build leg strength, cardio fitness and mental toughness. It’s a great combination, so if you have any races/events on your schedule, it’ll be well worth your time.

I know that many of you are riding the Total Cycling Performance Hill Classic this weekend. For those participating, take it a little easier on the hill. Do fewer repeats than you have been, and don’t put forth the same effort. Get some climbing in to stay sharp, but make sure you can recover by Saturday. And for those of you who are interested in joining us in Fountain City, WI for the Hill Classic, please contact me.

Bring your friends tomorrow and I’ll look forward to seeing you in Afton!